Signing autographs, chatting and posing for selfies until the last fan was satisfied, Mario Götze cut a happy figure after the sweat-soaked practice sessions at Borussia Dortmund's summer training camp in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland.

"It's always nice to be in a positive environment, surrounded by people who like and appreciate you," said Germany's 2014 World Cup final hero. The man playing perhaps the single biggest role in re-boosting Götze's spirits and self-confidence is Thomas Tuchel, head coach at the 24-year-old's once-and-future club. "I just want to see Mario laugh more often," Tuchel tellingly remarked shortly after the deal was sealed on the former wunderkind's return from a three-year stint at FC Bayern München. Expanding on the theme after the first few days training with his new charge, Tuchel said, "I think Mario was looking for a bit more of a feeling of warmth and affinity – not just from the coach, but the club in its entirety."

Watch: Mario Götze is back where it all began and ready to start afresh:

At Dortmund, he appears to be getting it; and rather sooner than many a skeptic had supposed when news of the return transfer broke. “It's like Mario was never away. He's matured, but he's still the same funny, easy-going guy he was before. We're really glad to have him back on board,” said left-back Marcel Schmelzer, evidently speaking for the BVB squad as a whole.

After a generally unfulfilling time at Bayern and a patchy showing at Euro 2016, Götze himself is now confident that “we can achieve quite a bit. If we keep working hard an developing, we can be very successful together.” Staying fit and playing regularly are the immediate priorities for the gifted forward, for whom, despite “one or two other offers,” a return to the club of his youth was always top of the list: “I really wanted to come back, and try to start playing my best football here again.”

Watch: Mario Götze's top five goals for FC Bayern München:

Making the choice even easier was the fact that, "I grew up here. I know the training ground, I know the whole city, I've a few friends and acquaintances here." Prominent among them are hometown hero Marco Reus and fellow World Cup winner André Schürrle, another summer arrival from VfL Wolfsburg. As for the not inconsiderable section of the Dortmund support who castigated him for his move to arch-rivals Bayern in 2013, Götze is hoping to win them over again in the best way possible: "I'm looking forward to the new season with the coaching staff and the team. I want to play as well as I can and help Dortmund be successful. I can only try to make my case with my performances out on the pitch."